Page 79 - CARIBE TOURIST GUIDE

Áreas protegidas
Cahuita National Park
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Beach, forest and colorful marine life
The park offers visitors the chance to see the best- preserved coral reef in the Costa Rican Caribbean and to enjoy the landscape, culture and cuisine that the region has to offer.
Enjoy the white sand beaches of your dreams, with aquamarine water and diverse marine life. These are just some of the attractions that Cahuita National Park has to offer. Located in Limón province,
the name Cahuita comes from the terms “Kawe” which refers to a local tree known as the sangrillo and “Ta”, which means “tip”; taken together the name means something like “Sangrillo Point”.
The park’s ecosystem combines dense forest with a Caribbean coast, with species including raccoons, pizotes, sloths, iguanas and the plumed basilisk. The park is also home to snakes like the eyelash viper, the hognosed pitviper, and birds like the common black hawk.
Its close relationship with the community makes Cahuita National Park unique in Costa Rica, serving as an example of joint management by the community and the government for sustainable local development. One key element is the participation of community park rangers and lifeguards under a shared governance model.